While the closing chapter for two outstanding high school volunteer careers is fast approaching for Immaculata seniors John Cavanagh and Kayla McGovern, you wouldn’t know it because they continue to serve even though their calendars are filled with senior activities such as final exams, prom, and trips. Campus Ministry Outreach Coordinator, Mr. Grieshaber, says, “I even overheard them talk privately recently while staring at the service wall pondering a program that conflicts with the senior boat trip, a wonderful Immaculata tradition, ‘Should we not go?’, said Kayla to John. I see them almost daily checking that wall.”
The two students have lived a servant life during their four years at Immaculata and their absence will be noticed as they move on to college. After meeting freshman year, John and Kayla formed a friendship based on service. They found that their time spent together during volunteer events allowed them to help others while also making timeless memories. Campus Ministry also brought them together as a team. During one of their favorite philanthropic ventures, Food Shopping for the Elderly, their teamwork helped them even in the smallest of ways: John would be the one to find the item they were looking for while Kayla would remember to check the expiration date.
On July 24th, John and Kayla will embark on their fifth Appalachia mission together; this will also be John's seventh mission while at Immaculata. For these two seniors, Appalachia is more about community engagement than community service. In fact, they were a part of an incredible group of five Immaculata seniors who served the hungry of West Virginia this past December. What made that trip particularly significant is that due to the restrictions made necessary by the pandemic, the school was unable to sponsor the mission. Undeterred, this dedicated group of students enlisted the help of their parents and together, they were able to continue the Christmas Appalachia tradition.
Combined, John and Kayla have given 2,323 hours across 330 outreach events over their four years at Immaculata High School. This fall, they will begin a new chapter at Seton Hall University where they will most likely be found volunteering through the school's Division of Volunteer Efforts.